Two years ago we started a new family tradition, a 5K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning. I am currently studying in Hawaii and, for the first time in forever, I wasn’t able to be with my family for Thanksgiving. I really wanted to keep the family tradition going and, after some research, found a 10 mile Turkey Trot in Hawaii, run by the Honolulu Marathon Clinic in preparation for the upcoming Honolulu Marathon. As I was scheduled to run the marathon, my first ever, I thought this Turkey Trot could serve a dual purpose. My friend Yukari had told me earlier in the year that her auntie had a ticket that she didn’t intend to use this year, and she had suggested I use it and run with her. Great, a bucket list accomplishment in the making……..except I have never run more than 5 miles in my life and I completely forgot to set aside some time to train. In all honesty I really don’t like running at all and I’m not very good at it. I’m not even sure how a marathon ended up on my bucket list! Thanksgiving morning came and Yukari and I went to the starting spot where we were met by one of my roommates who had decided to run as well. We were all given a popsicle stick to write our names on and the time we expected it would take for us to finish the race. It was just an estimate, we weren’t allowed phones or watches, and the actually time would be added by a race official at the end of the race. Yukari and I wrote 2 hours and 1 hour 58 minutes respectively as our guesstimate times, and my roommate Bobby wrote 2.5 hours. I was somewhat perplexed by his estimate until he explained that he thought we were running together, waiting for each other. Normally when we run together, I am the one in the back struggling and he always has to slow down or stop until I catch up …………..so technically what he was saying was that his estimate was the time he thought it would take me to finish. Hmmmmmm - not sure how I feel about this observation @#$%! We start the race and somewhere between mile 1 and 2 the pain starts – pain all over my body – and I need to pee (not helping in slightest). How many miles do we have left? Bobby keeps asking me if I am alright, at about 5 minute intervals, and frankly I didn’t have enough oxygen for talking and running. My body hurt, I needed to pee and his estimated time irked me, brought out my competitive nature. When we started up the first hill I slowed even more, and when Bobby checked in on me again I snapped at him and told him to leave me alone! He took off after Yukari and I was left to stew in my own anger and pain. Funny thing about anger, it can REALLY motivate you. Slowly but surely I started to catch to Bobby until l finally passed him. That was the last time I saw him at the race. I kept telling myself I could do this, he wasn’t going to have to wait for me this time, I would show him and everyone who doubted me (including myself) that I could finish and without stopping. I kept pushing myself and pushing myself and before I knew it I could see Yukari ahead. I focused on Yukari, getting closer and closer, until I was running right behind her. I stayed behind her for a while until I finally realized she had no idea I was there. I came up alongside her and she freaked out, she was so shocked to see me. She told me she was on the verge of stopping until I showed up and together we motivated each other across the finish line in 2 hours and 7 minutes. It was a hot day, we got rained on, but we finished. Eat your heart out all you doubting Thomas’…… I DID IT ☺. Yukari and I waited for about an hour at the finish line for Bobby but he never showed. We decided to go have some fun – slowly, very slowly and tenderly. We went up to where they were playing music and giving out awards. We got free Lenard’s malasadas (yummy!!!!) and yes, we kept asking for more. We took photos and celebrated our accomplishment. Afterwards we went back to Yukari’s house to rest and eat sushi. Yes, I said sushi – another one of those strange traditions my family has acquired, homemade sushi for Thanksgiving. After our sushi fest we returned to my place where my other roommate, Haynes, was cooking a turkey. Bobby had already returned and we asked where he went, he said he finished the race and got tired of waiting for us so he came home. Not to worry, the turkey was great, the day was full of memorable moments and strange traditions, and I loved it. Can’t wait until next year. P.S. I kept my popsicle stick ☺
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Victoria VerleysenI love traveling the world Archives
October 2016
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